Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
Holy shit! This book just blew my mind!
The plot was excellent with it being very well thought out. It's unique in that it's not your typical fae-type novel where there's the different courts ruled by the summer/winter queens/kings. It has hints of high fantasy world building while still keeping to the urban fantasy genre.
McKenzie, our heroine, is also pretty darn unique amongst today's urban fantasy novels. She's different from most other female leads, in that she certainly is not your typical tough-as-nails fighter (despite the misleading front cover). However, she is very valuable asset to the fae and is strong in her own way. But what I really loved about her is her vulnerability, her emotions, and her very raw feelings.
But what really made this book a keeper for me? The romance of course! This book took me on an emotional roller-coaster with it's crazy love-triangle. Both fae guys are drool-worthy and are almost total opposites. Kyol instantly captured my heart with his calm demeanor, strength, and exceptional loyalty. Aren slowly grew on me with his charm. I was okay at first with McKenzie choosing one or the either because I did not truly know the scope of how much they cared for her. But when I found out how much Kyol regrets his actions, how much he loves her, and how far he would go to protect her, I simply died a little inside. For now, I'll be rooting for Kyol all the way!
The plot was excellent with it being very well thought out. It's unique in that it's not your typical fae-type novel where there's the different courts ruled by the summer/winter queens/kings. It has hints of high fantasy world building while still keeping to the urban fantasy genre.
McKenzie, our heroine, is also pretty darn unique amongst today's urban fantasy novels. She's different from most other female leads, in that she certainly is not your typical tough-as-nails fighter (despite the misleading front cover). However, she is very valuable asset to the fae and is strong in her own way. But what I really loved about her is her vulnerability, her emotions, and her very raw feelings.
But what really made this book a keeper for me? The romance of course! This book took me on an emotional roller-coaster with it's crazy love-triangle. Both fae guys are drool-worthy and are almost total opposites. Kyol instantly captured my heart with his calm demeanor, strength, and exceptional loyalty. Aren slowly grew on me with his charm. I was okay at first with McKenzie choosing one or the either because I did not truly know the scope of how much they cared for her. But when I found out how much Kyol regrets his actions, how much he loves her, and how far he would go to protect her, I simply died a little inside. For now, I'll be rooting for Kyol all the way!
Abandoned at 59%.
I had written a long explanation saying how I didn't understand why the book didn't click with me, since everything seems perfectly acceptable overall and admitting to a silly feeling of guilt like every time I give up on a book, but my Internet sucks lately and it didn't save.
So that's it, basically. On the love dilemma: I don't think I particularly cheered for Aren or Kyol, although I did feel weird most of the time when Aren and McKenzie talked because he kidnapped her, and that's bad, but if he hadn't kidnapped her I would've liked him a lot more. He's... nice? Kinda. At least not an asshole, is what I mean, even if he IS The Bad Boy.
Anyway, this is one of those "it's not you, it's me" occasions. Too bad.
I had written a long explanation saying how I didn't understand why the book didn't click with me, since everything seems perfectly acceptable overall and admitting to a silly feeling of guilt like every time I give up on a book, but my Internet sucks lately and it didn't save.
So that's it, basically.
Spoiler
Is it odd I was really entertained when he cut her throat? I mean the bad guys always threaten crap when they're acting as the bad guys, but then agan they're in love so they aren't actually going to hurt anybody. Aren did it which just.Anyway, this is one of those "it's not you, it's me" occasions. Too bad.
3.5. Good 1st book in this series about Fae and humans.
Un vrai coup de coeur. Ce livre a tout ce qu'il faut pour plaire. Il m'a pratiquement été impossible de le reposer.
Un univers complexe mais très facilement abordable, une héroïne intelligente et posée, des personnages attachants, une intrigue intéressante et solide, une histoire d'amourS avec un grand S qui résonne et sonne juste sur toute la ligne.
Définitivement le meilleur livre que j'ai lu depuis les Kate Daniels.
Un univers complexe mais très facilement abordable, une héroïne intelligente et posée, des personnages attachants, une intrigue intéressante et solide, une histoire d'amourS avec un grand S qui résonne et sonne juste sur toute la ligne.
Définitivement le meilleur livre que j'ai lu depuis les Kate Daniels.
Great start to a new series. I can't wait to see what happens between the heroine and her hero.
At first, I thought this was going to be a five-star read. MacKenzie was kick-ass in the way she just wouldn't give up her principles and I looooved the prospect of her and Aren's relationship developing into something phenomenal.
But somewhore around 35%, the story lost me. MacKenzie turned annoying, the rebels boring as hell despite of all the action they took part in, and that goddamn love triangle... I don't usually hate on them, but this one just made me want to pull my hair out.
Now, I'm just glad I managed to finish and it's over and done with.
But somewhore around 35%, the story lost me. MacKenzie turned annoying, the rebels boring as hell despite of all the action they took part in, and that goddamn love triangle... I don't usually hate on them, but this one just made me want to pull my hair out.
Now, I'm just glad I managed to finish and it's over and done with.
I'm conflicted about this book. I thought I was going to get a kick ass heroine. The cover of this book is extremely misleading. This chick doesn't use a sword. In fact, everyone in the book seems to use a sword EXCEPT for her. Instead, we get a semi-defenseless "shadow reader" - whatever the hell that is - twisted up in a love triangle.
Williams descriptions of the shadow reading and what not felt forced. I mean, I got what she was trying to explain (I think), but her world building didn't really capture me. The thing that really kept me in the book was the love triangle and the leading men, Kyol and Aren. Point of fact - I'm a sucker for a good love triangle and this one was pretty solid though the set-up for the love triangle was super weak. Here is the cliff's notes version: Our heroine, McKenzie, has been in love with the King's sword master, Kyol, for the better part of a decade and yet she has absolutely no commitment from him. Nada. Nothing. Zilch. Since he's the sword master and he's fae, he's not supposed to be cavorting with humans, but he can't stay away from our little shadow reader and he's been stringing her along with clandestine make-out sessions and sweet endearments like "kaesha" (whatever the f*** that means) for 10 years. You read that right. 10 FREAKIN' YEARS!!!
Who the hell waits 10 years for someone without getting laid once???? I don't care how hot the kissing is - after about a year (maybe two - I'll be generous and give her two years), you start to question where the heck this is going. After 2 years (with no sex mind you!!!), you've got to wonder what the hell is going on and start to question your own sanity. And by year 3 at the LATEST(I mean, I would have been gone around the end of year 1, so 3 years is freakin' unfathomable), it's time to hit the road. 10 FREAKING YEARS!!! I don't care how young you were when you met him - you wait around for him for a decade, you're a f***ing idiot.
Anyway, the idiocy and desperation of our heroine withstanding, the thing that saves this book is the leading men and the action. There is a lot of action. McKenzie is fairly helpless when it comes to all of these fae she's surrounded herself with and she's constantly in trouble so it's pretty much an endless stream of action. In fact, the book starts practically from page one with action and each chapter is a mini-cliffhanger unto itself.
Upon reading this review, you may think that I didn't like this book. You would be mistaken. I did enjoy (most of) it. But it's overridden with flaws that I could go on and on about. I liken it to watching a soap opera. Sometimes you've got to ignore the bad acting and the forced story lines and just take it for what it's worth. That's this book in a nutshell.
Williams descriptions of the shadow reading and what not felt forced. I mean, I got what she was trying to explain (I think), but her world building didn't really capture me. The thing that really kept me in the book was the love triangle and the leading men, Kyol and Aren. Point of fact - I'm a sucker for a good love triangle and this one was pretty solid though the set-up for the love triangle was super weak. Here is the cliff's notes version: Our heroine, McKenzie, has been in love with the King's sword master, Kyol, for the better part of a decade and yet she has absolutely no commitment from him. Nada. Nothing. Zilch. Since he's the sword master and he's fae, he's not supposed to be cavorting with humans, but he can't stay away from our little shadow reader and he's been stringing her along with clandestine make-out sessions and sweet endearments like "kaesha" (whatever the f*** that means) for 10 years. You read that right. 10 FREAKIN' YEARS!!!
Who the hell waits 10 years for someone without getting laid once???? I don't care how hot the kissing is - after about a year (maybe two - I'll be generous and give her two years), you start to question where the heck this is going. After 2 years (with no sex mind you!!!), you've got to wonder what the hell is going on and start to question your own sanity. And by year 3 at the LATEST(I mean, I would have been gone around the end of year 1, so 3 years is freakin' unfathomable), it's time to hit the road. 10 FREAKING YEARS!!! I don't care how young you were when you met him - you wait around for him for a decade, you're a f***ing idiot.
Anyway, the idiocy and desperation of our heroine withstanding, the thing that saves this book is the leading men and the action. There is a lot of action. McKenzie is fairly helpless when it comes to all of these fae she's surrounded herself with and she's constantly in trouble so it's pretty much an endless stream of action. In fact, the book starts practically from page one with action and each chapter is a mini-cliffhanger unto itself.
Upon reading this review, you may think that I didn't like this book. You would be mistaken. I did enjoy (most of) it. But it's overridden with flaws that I could go on and on about. I liken it to watching a soap opera. Sometimes you've got to ignore the bad acting and the forced story lines and just take it for what it's worth. That's this book in a nutshell.
This book has everything: a snarky kickass heroine, nail-biting action scenes, dreamy guys (two, in fact!), a really well written love triangle, and plenty of hard-to-make, heartfelt choices.
And? It holds up after multiple read-throughs.
Highly recommended.
And? It holds up after multiple read-throughs.
Highly recommended.
I bought this book about 10 months ago, continuously stalling to read it for no apparent reason….. Well clearly there was a reason.
I am no stranger to urban fantasy and mythical story lines however this genre involving fae is clearly not my cup of tea. The novel features Mckenzie who is a shadow reader (a human with the ability to see fae and track them).
As the story unfolds there is the inevitable love triangle as well as the required good vs evil debate.....(yawn). This was one of the few books I could not finish, at the 60% mark I had to give up.
I am no stranger to urban fantasy and mythical story lines however this genre involving fae is clearly not my cup of tea. The novel features Mckenzie who is a shadow reader (a human with the ability to see fae and track them).
As the story unfolds there is the inevitable love triangle as well as the required good vs evil debate.....(yawn). This was one of the few books I could not finish, at the 60% mark I had to give up.
I purchased the Shadow Reader after reading a delightful review some time ago and this sat in my TBR pile until I found myself in the mood for a good urban fantasy. Williams takes us to Houston and to the realm of the Fae. The tale is filled with battles, a love triangle and characters you cannot help but fall for. I was immediately swept away.
McKenzie Lewis is human and a shadow reader. She is able to read the shadow of a Fae as he fissures out from this world to the next. She is invaluable to the King and has been tracking vicious rebels for him since she was sixteen. She has also been in love with the king’s sword-master Kyol. There love is forbidden and despite a few stolen kisses they have honored the king. The rebels discover McKenzie’s whereabouts and despite Kyol’s efforts she is kidnapped. Aren the smexy rebel leader whisks her away to a safe house within the realm outside of Germany. McKenzie’s world is about to get turned upside down as Aren teaches her the Fae language and shares with her truths about the Court. Things get really complicated when she begins to develop feelings for Aren all while trying to make her escape. The tale was captivating, the romance complicated and the world of the Fae mesmerizing.
Told from McKenzie point of view and despite some annoying moments we get inside her head. She is smart, fiercely loyal and hilarious at times. The conversations in her head had me giggling more than once. Her soul has been damaged in this awful war and her life put on hold. Her feelings for Kyol have kept her from moving forward. I hate love triangles and my stomach did a flip-flop when I realized I was smack-dab in the middle of one. McKenzie has crushed on Kyol since forever and he has ruined her for mere humans. He is kind, sweet and gentle. They have had beautiful stolen moments, but never gone too far. His first loyalty has and always will be to the king. I liked Kyol. He is smexy, protective, and moves like a god with a sword. Now, Aren is a rebel, he loves his people and he is immediately attracted to McKenzie. He tries to teach her and show her their side of the war. They desperately need information she has, but Aren chooses to allow her to make the choice. I really liked this about him and felt his feelings for her are genuine. Their relationship progressed slowly and we were sparred insta-love. Who did she pick? Read and see. We meet many different Fae and each was unique and added to the tale. There was a couple who stood out and I became swept up in their side stories as well.
The world-building in Williams universe was stellar and I found myself completely enthralled. The Fae court, the rebels and the realms were all spectacularly portrayed. The effect of technology on the Fae was interesting, as was the hierarchy. The interaction and reaction that occurred when a human and Fae shared an intimate moment was ooh-la-la. I am looking forward to learning more in the next novel. From the beginning we realize that McKenzie has been trained that the court is good and the rebels are evil. We also discover they have kept things from her. I cannot help but wonder if she would have questioned things more if Kyol was not a part of the equation. The McKenzie, Aren, Kyol triangle was complex and felt genuine. It created angst and kept me on edge. The pacing of the novel was delightful with its ebbs and flow. It allowed me to catch my breath and appreciate the world around the characters. The ending tied things up nicely, and while there is still much to be done and the pockets of the war still continue we get some closure.
I recommend the Shadow Reader to fans of urban fantasy, Fae and high end fantasy. I am looking forward to reading The Shattered Dark the next book in the McKenzie Lewis series.
Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
McKenzie Lewis is human and a shadow reader. She is able to read the shadow of a Fae as he fissures out from this world to the next. She is invaluable to the King and has been tracking vicious rebels for him since she was sixteen. She has also been in love with the king’s sword-master Kyol. There love is forbidden and despite a few stolen kisses they have honored the king. The rebels discover McKenzie’s whereabouts and despite Kyol’s efforts she is kidnapped. Aren the smexy rebel leader whisks her away to a safe house within the realm outside of Germany. McKenzie’s world is about to get turned upside down as Aren teaches her the Fae language and shares with her truths about the Court. Things get really complicated when she begins to develop feelings for Aren all while trying to make her escape. The tale was captivating, the romance complicated and the world of the Fae mesmerizing.
Told from McKenzie point of view and despite some annoying moments we get inside her head. She is smart, fiercely loyal and hilarious at times. The conversations in her head had me giggling more than once. Her soul has been damaged in this awful war and her life put on hold. Her feelings for Kyol have kept her from moving forward. I hate love triangles and my stomach did a flip-flop when I realized I was smack-dab in the middle of one. McKenzie has crushed on Kyol since forever and he has ruined her for mere humans. He is kind, sweet and gentle. They have had beautiful stolen moments, but never gone too far. His first loyalty has and always will be to the king. I liked Kyol. He is smexy, protective, and moves like a god with a sword. Now, Aren is a rebel, he loves his people and he is immediately attracted to McKenzie. He tries to teach her and show her their side of the war. They desperately need information she has, but Aren chooses to allow her to make the choice. I really liked this about him and felt his feelings for her are genuine. Their relationship progressed slowly and we were sparred insta-love. Who did she pick? Read and see. We meet many different Fae and each was unique and added to the tale. There was a couple who stood out and I became swept up in their side stories as well.
The world-building in Williams universe was stellar and I found myself completely enthralled. The Fae court, the rebels and the realms were all spectacularly portrayed. The effect of technology on the Fae was interesting, as was the hierarchy. The interaction and reaction that occurred when a human and Fae shared an intimate moment was ooh-la-la. I am looking forward to learning more in the next novel. From the beginning we realize that McKenzie has been trained that the court is good and the rebels are evil. We also discover they have kept things from her. I cannot help but wonder if she would have questioned things more if Kyol was not a part of the equation. The McKenzie, Aren, Kyol triangle was complex and felt genuine. It created angst and kept me on edge. The pacing of the novel was delightful with its ebbs and flow. It allowed me to catch my breath and appreciate the world around the characters. The ending tied things up nicely, and while there is still much to be done and the pockets of the war still continue we get some closure.
I recommend the Shadow Reader to fans of urban fantasy, Fae and high end fantasy. I am looking forward to reading The Shattered Dark the next book in the McKenzie Lewis series.
Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer